Friday, December 31, 2010

30.12.10 - 11:32 Gaza City – Muhammad al-Astal – Al-Quds - Palestinian fishermen face great difficulties at work on the Mediterranean Sea: even after continual naval assaults by Israeli troops that have lead to several recent deaths and injuries and major damage to their boats and fishing equipment, there is still the fact that they are forbidden from fishing in deep water and go home without enough to feed their families.

A Gaza fishing boat (Image courtesy of www.alquds.com).

Sami Bakr, 31, says that despite the great effort he exerted to avoid Israeli gunfire in his small boat, he failed: his cousin Muhammad died of injuries sustained from an Israeli raid. Most of his fishing equipment s destroyed as well.
“The lives of fishermen are bitter,” said Bakr. “Many face death on the sea, but most face poverty in the Strip. We now have so little that we can barely provide for our families.”
According to the al-Mizan Center for Human Rights, Israeli assaults will continue against Gaza fishermen if the available fishing region is kept within three nautical miles of the shore—Israeli troops have been known to fire at any boats approaching beyond the limit, breaking windows and putting holes in the boat hulls, sometimes even seizing the boats outright.
The three-mile limit is not enough to accommodate Gaza’s more than 3700 fishermen and serves only to deepen their poverty and that of their families. Fishermen are Gaza’s poorest sector—about 90% fall below the poverty line.
On Tuesday, Israeli naval troops arrested six Gaza fishermen near the beach and took them, as well as their boats, to an unknown location. In the past year and a half, 42 fishermen have been arrested and 17 boats seized, and 83 boats damaged in various degree.
Nizar Ayash, a local captain, calls for others to stand by the fishermen in their plight and help them continue their lives, warning that marginalization will lead fishermen to look for work elsewhere.
With this in mind, Agriculture Minister in Gaza Muhammad al-Agha considers the Israeli policy of attacking fishermen “an arrogant and flimsy justification to crack down on fishermen and deepen their suffering.”

IOF continued to fire at Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in border areas in the Gaza Strip. IOF arrested 6 Palestinian fishermen and confiscated their boat.

Saturday, 25 December 2010

At approximately 15:00, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers on the northwestern border of the Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishermen who were fishing near Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip. As a result, Ahmed Mohammed Zayed, 25, from Beit Lahia, was wounded by a bullet to the right foot.

Sunday, 26 December 2010

At approximately 18:30, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats opposite to al-Nussairat beach in the central Gaza Strip, forcing them to sail back to the beach.

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

At approximately 19:15, Israeli naval troops arrested 6 Palestinian fishermen who were sailing opposite to al-Sudaniya beach in the northern Gaza Strip. They took the fishermen to Ashdod Port inside Israel for interrogation. They also seized the fishing boat on board of which the fishermen were sailing. The fishermen were released at approximately 06:00 on Wednesday, 29 December 2010. The fishermen are:

Palestinian fishermen in Gaza continue to be subject to unreasonable restrictions and attacks by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) seriously curtailing their right to work. Israeli imposed restrictions prohibit Gaza fishermen from fishing more than three nautical miles off the coast except at the northern and southernmost borders. It is common for IOF soldiers to open fire on fishermen, pursue them in the water while they are fishing, and sabotage and confiscate their equipment, including their nets and boats.

Such acts constitute flagrant violations of Israel’s legal obligations, as an occupying power, under international law. They violate the Fishermen’s rights to life, work, safety and bodily integrity. They also infringe upon the right not to be tortured and prevent them from maintaining an adequate standard of living.

Palestinian fishermen in Gaza continue to
be subject to unreasonable restrictions and
attacks by the Israeli occupation forces
(IOF) seriously curtailing their right to
work. Israeli imposed restrictions prohibit
Gaza fishermen from fishing more than
three nautical miles off the coast except at
the northern and southernmost borders. It
is common for IOFsoldiers to open fire on
fishermen, pursue them in the water while
they are fishing, and sabotage and
confiscate their equipment, including their
netsand boats.
Such acts constitute flagrant violations of
Israel’s legal obligations, as an occupying
power, under international law. They
violate the Fishermen’s rights to life,
work, safety and bodily integrity. They
also infringe upon the right not to be
tortured and prevent them from
maintaining an adequate standard of
living.
The Oslo Accords between the Palestine
Liberation Organization and Israel granted
Palestinian fishermen the right to fish
within a zone of 20 nautical miles in the
sea off the coast of Gaza. In 2002, the IOF
reduced the fishing zone to 12 nautical
miles and in October 2006 this was further
reduced to six nautical miles. In January
2009, following Israel’s illegal assault on
the Gaza Strip (Operation Cast Lead), the
fishing zone was cut again; this time to
three nautical miles.1 These restrictions
have only further exacerbated the

hardships imposed upon Gaza’s fishing
industry, comprised of over 4,000
fishermen and their families.2 It has
substantially increased the poverty and
unemployment rates among not only
fishermen but also individuals and groups
whose living is in some way connected to
the fishing industry.
By having to fish in such shallow waters,
Palestinian fishermen catch mainly small
fish and those most likely to have ingested
the contaminants pumped into the sea by
failing or inadequate sewage treatment
facilities. Worse still, Gazan fishermen
forced across the Egyptian-Gaza marine
boundaries for their fish are subjected to
the whims of Israeli naval personnel on
watch aboard Israeli navy ships that patrol
the entire length of the Gaza coast.
Israeli restrictions and attacks on
fishermen have shortened considerably the
fishing seasons already fraught with
problems stemming from a malfunctioning
economy. According to statements by
fishermen to the Mezan Centre for Human
Rights, IOF attacks and harassment
against them increase considerably during
fishingseason.
This fact sheet summarizes the situational
difficulties Gaza’s fisherman face:

Number of fishermen in Gaza: 4,400, of
whom 3,700 are registered with the
Fishermen’s Syndicate.3 Fishing is the
source of living for approximately 65,000
people.4

There are 700 fishing boats in Gaza of
which 500 are small-sized boats.5

Poverty among fishermen in 2010 has been
the highest of all the population groups in
Gaza. It is estimated at 90%; up from 50%
in 2008.6

Between 1 May 2009 and 30 November
2010, the IOF:

Carried out 53 attacks against fishermen.

Killed two fishermen.

Injured seven fishermen.

Arrested 42 fishermen, including two
children. Most of them were subject to ill
treatment.

Confiscated 17 fishing boats and destroyed
one during the same period.

Despite having radios, Gazan Fishermen have not been warned by the IOF before they are attacked. IOF forces have disrupted the radio communications of Gaza’s fishermen hundreds of times, a clear violation of international maritime law.

Rami Sami Omar Baker, 23, is a
fisherman. His boat was attacked by the
IOF several times. During the last attack,
Rami’s cousin, Mohammed Mansour
Baker, 20, was killed. Rami testified to Al
Mezan Centre for Human Rights:

“At around 6am on Friday 24 September 2010, my brothers
Rani and Omar, my cousin Mohammed Mansour Baker and I
left our house and went to the harbor west of Gaza City. We
filled the hasaka (small fishing boat) with fuel. We checked
the cords and the hooks. We put food and water on the
hasaka and sailed. We headed beyond the harbor’s gate out
the sea. We sailed for about three kilometers to the west and
stopped; we’re always careful not to get close to the three
nautical-mile virtual line. I switched off the hasaka engine
and we took out our fishing hooks and started to fish.
“I saw an Israeli military boat patrolling the sea about 400
meters to the west of us. Thirty minutes after our arrival, my
brother Rani asked me to sail to the north as we were afraid
the Israeli boat would fire at us. I switched the hasaka engine
on and sailed to the north. We moved for about four
kilometers north, but were inside the permitted three-mile
zone. When we stopped, we took our fishing hooks out and
started to fish. I saw an Israeli military boat sailing from the
north to the south. It was about 500 meters from us. Five
minutes later, I heard gunfire and I saw bullets hitting the
water around us. I switched the hasaka on quickly and sailed
east towards the shore for about one kilometer. We stopped
there and switched off the hasaka.
“I then saw an Israeli military boat sailing from the northwest
side from where we were. It was moving to the south, directly
towards us. When it was about 600 meters from us, it started
shooting. While the Israeli boat was approaching I saw the
impact of bullets hitting the water around us. I switched the
hasaka on and tried to flee.
“We sailed south for about 100 meters with the Israeli boat
still firing upon us. At that moment the Israeli boat was just
200 meters opposite us. I saw the number plate area, with
the number 884 written in black at the front of the boat. I saw
about eight soldiers in dark green military uniforms standing
on the deck of the boat. The boat was silver with red rubber
at the bottom.
“The shooting continued as I sailed slowly. I heard my
cousin, Mohammed, saying ‘I’m injured’. I looked at him and
saw him pushing his hand against his abdomen. Blood was
coming out from under his hand.
“We rushed back to the shore and to the Kamal Adwan
Hospital. We carried Mohammed to the Emergency Room
and laid him on a bed. I asked a doctor about Mohammed’s
condition and he told me Mohammed had died just as when
we arrived at the hospital.
“I don’t know why the IOF opened fire at us. We were fishing
in an area that did not exceed the three nautical-miles zone.
We were inside the fishing zone when the IOF attacked us.”

When the IOF arrest fishermen, they are usually subject to ill
treatment; including beating and torture. When arresting fishermen,
IOF compel them jump into the sea and swim towards the military
boats, even in winter. Then the IOF order fishermen to take off their
clothes and blinds fold and cuffs them with plastic straps. IOF detain
fishermen in detention centers inside Israel. In many cases IOF
confiscated fishing boats of the arrested fishermen for several months.

1
See “Between the Fence and a Hard Place”
Report pages 10 and 11 by the Office of the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_o
pt_special_focus_2010_08_19_english.pdf

2
According to Nizar Ayyash, the chairman of the
Palestinian Fishermen’s Syndicate, the number of
fishermen who have license is 3700.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

TEL AVIV (Ma’an) -- Israel's navy intercepted a Palestinian fishing boat on Monday night, said to have been approaching Israeli territorial waters in the northern Gaza Strip, a military official told Radio Israel.

The official said six were detained for questioning about a "suspicious object" being dragged behind the small vessel.

The object sank to the seabed before it could be investigated, he added.

Israeli navy arrests six Palestinian fishermen

[ 28/12/2010 - 10:38 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Israeli navy forces on Monday night detained six Palestinian fishermen after intercepting their fishing boat off the coast of northern Gaza Strip, Radio Israel reported.It quoted army sources as saying that investigations were underway to determine the nature of a submerged suspicious object that the fishing boat was dragging.The sources claimed that the object was spotted using underwater technological equipment used by the navy to detect infiltration attempts.Israeli security sources said that the arrest of Palestinians at sea was the first in a year, adding that they might be released after completion of interrogation.

Six Fishermen Kidnapped Near Israeli Shore

Israeli military sources reported on Monday at night that six Palestinian fishermen were detained by the Navy after their approached an Israeli shore close to the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

File - Maan Images

The sources added that the Navy is currently interrogating the fishermen and claimed that they dropped an unknown object near the shore.

The army claimed that the boat was dragging the object before cutting it loose into the sea.

The object was discovered by special underwater sensors the Israeli Navy uses. It's nature remained unknown until the time of this report.

Israeli Piracy continues: 6 Palestinian fishermen abducted

Monday, 27 December 2010 23:25

Ronan Macfield

Gaza, December 28, (Pal telegraph) – Israeli occupation forces seized 6 Palestinian fishermen off Gaza shore northern the besieged Gaza Strip. Israeli naval forces opened its heavy machine guns against the innocent fishing boats.
The act is considered as direct piracy as it took place within the Palestinian territorial waters. Israeli sources tried to cover up the incident by announcing that the fishermen were sailing beside unknown body.
After shooting and causing a case of fear across fishing boats, the army captured illegally 6 Palestinian fishermen to unknown place.
Israeli army regularly hinders the work of Palestinian fishermen. Instead of allowing them to fish in the Palestinian waters, Israeli naval forces storm these waters and attack them. More than dozens were killed and many others were injured, others were captured in the past few years.
Israel imposes a naval blockade along the tight blockade over Gaza. Palestinians in Gaza are not allowed to sail into or out of these waters. Although, Israel pretended that it has withdraw entirely from Gaza back in 2005, it remains in control of Gaza borders, especially the waters.
Israeli acts are considered to be direct piracy. Many ships tried to send food to Gaza were either attacked or confiscated leaving Gazans suffer grim results of the siege.
PT Editing Team

Monday, December 27, 2010

At approximately 8:30am on Monday 27 December 2010, Israeli gunboats that were patrolling the waters off the coast of the Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of An-Nuseirat refugee camp.

At approximately 6:30pm on Sunday 26 December 2010, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Deir Al Balah town. No casualties or injuries were reported.

The official described the injuries as light, but noted a recent spike in the number of deaths and injuries resulting from Israeli fire in the area since the beginning of December. Thirteen Palestinians have been killed, he said, and another 34 injured.

The latest incident took place in the As-Sudanieyah area off the northern Gaza shore.

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Palestinian fisherman injured in IOF shooting

[ 25/12/2010 - 03:43 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- A Palestinian fisherman was slightly wounded on Saturday when the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) aboard navy gunboats opened heavy machinegun fire at fishermen off the coast of northern Gaza city.Adham Abu Salmiya, the spokesman for the medical services, told the PIC that the IOF firing wounded the 25-year-old youth in both his feet, adding that he was hospitalized.The IOF shooting at Palestinian civilians in Gaza Strip killed 13 and wounded 34 others in the current month of December.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

At approximately 3:30pm on Saturday 25 December 2010, Israeli naval vessels patrolling the Gaza Sea opened fire on a Palestinian fishing boat, which was 200 meters south to the separation fence north Al-Waha resort, west of Beit Lahyia town in the North-Gaza district. As a result, Ahmed Mohammed Mahmoud Zayed, 25, who is a resident of Beit Lahyia, was injured in the right leg and his boat was slightly damaged. According to medical sources at Kamal Odwan Hospital, his injury was described as moderate.

RAFAH, (PIC)-- Israeli gunboats opened heavy machinegun fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the southern Gaza Strip coast of Rafah on Wednesday night, press sources reported.The sources said that the gunboats repeatedly targeted the fishing boats at a close distance, forcing fishermen to return to the beach fearing for their lives.Israeli navy boats routinely chase and harass Palestinian fishermen along the shoreline of the Strip, one of whom was killed last Friday when his boat capsized while trying to escape the Israeli navy chase off Rafah coast.Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes were seen increasing their flights over the Strip, Palestinian security sources reported, warning that they might be preparing for attacking certain targets.The sources told the PIC that reconnaissance planes, army choppers, and other types of warplanes were intensifying their over flights on Wednesday evening.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- A Palestinian boy died Friday afternoon after Israeli gunboats opened fire on his fishing boat and flipped it over off the coast of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Gaza medical services spokesman Adham Abu Salmiya said 15-year-old Ziad Samir Al-Bardawil died after being treated for his injuries at the Abu Yousef An-Najjar Hospital.

Israel's military could not immediately be reached for comment.

When contacted by AFP, an Israeli military spokeswoman said that "this incident has not been reported by the Israeli side."

AFP contributed to this report

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Palestinian fisherman killed after Israeli troops chased down his boat

[ 18/12/2010 - 07:45 AM ]

RAFAH, (PIC)-- A Palestinian fisherman was killed Friday after Israeli naval troops chased down his boat off the coast of the southern Gaza Strip region of Rafah, medics in Gaza said.The victim Ziad Bardawil died after the troops pursued him and several other fishermen in the Rafah sea, Adham Abu Salmiyya, the medical services spokesman, told the PIC.Condemning Israel's targeting of Palestinian fisherman, chief agriculture ministry official Ibrahim Al Qudra said Israel has no shame in shooting heavily and daily at fishermen in order to stop them from practicing their profession. Fishermen have been deeply affected by this real threat.Israel has reduced the distance off shore permitted for fishing from six miles to three miles, Qudra said, adding that fishermen have been subjected to ongoing harassment and provocations.The Gaza Strip is home to a total of 350 fishermen who own around 700 boats. Around 70,000 Palestinians make their living in the fishing business.

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Child Killed As Army Chases Fishing Boats Near Rafah Shore

A 15-year-old Palestinian child was killed on Friday evening after the Israeli Navy chased a fishing boat close to the Rafah shore, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip; the boat flipped over after the army opened fire at it.

File - Maan Images

Medical sources in Rafah reported that the slain child was identified as Ziad Samir Al Bardaweel. His body was moved to Abu Yousef Al Najjar Hospital in Rafah.

Dozens of casualties were reported among fishermen in the Gaza Strip in recent years due to the fact that the Israeli Navy repeatedly attacks Palestinian fishermen, and prevents them from fishing in Palestinian territorial waters.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

At approximately 12:30, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers at the beach to the northwest of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian fishermen who were fishing nearly 350 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. As a result, Ahmed Mahmoud Jarbou', 26, from al-Shati refugee camp in the west of Gaza City.